US strike on tanker off Oman leaves three Indian missing

A U.S. military strike on a commercial tanker off the coast of Oman has left three Indian crew members missing and prompted a diplomatic protest from India. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, June 9, according to U.S. military time, is the latest in a series of confrontations in the Gulf of Oman as the United States enforces a naval blockade against Iran.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that a U.S. aircraft fired precision munitions into the engine room of the Palau-flagged oil products tanker MT Settebello after the vessel's crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces. The strike disabled the ship approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of the Omani port of Sohar. Video of the incident showed an explosion and fire at the vessel's stern.

Of the 24 Indian nationals aboard the Settebello, 21 were rescued by Omani authorities. A search and rescue operation for the three missing seafarers is ongoing, coordinated by the Indian Embassy in Muscat with Omani maritime agencies. The total crew was reported to be 28 individuals.

In response, India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Jason Meeks in New Delhi to lodge a strong...